David Howard Murdock (April 11, 1923 – June 9, 2025) was an American billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and advocate for plant-based nutrition whose remarkable career transformed industries and communities. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Murdock grew up in modest circumstances in Wayne, Ohio, dropping out of high school in the 9th grade due to undiagnosed dyslexia. Drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II, he faced homelessness in Detroit post-war until a $1,200 loan from a good Samaritan allowed him to purchase a failing diner, which he sold for a $700 profit. This marked the start of his entrepreneurial journey.Murdock built his fortune through real estate ventures in Arizona and California, beginning with housing and expanding into commercial properties.
In the 1960s, after a real estate market collapse, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he acquired stakes in major corporations. Key achievements include gaining control of International Mining in 1978 and becoming the largest shareholder in Occidental Petroleum in 1981 by selling his 18% stake in Iowa Beef Packers for $800 million in stock, enabling Occidental to become the largest U.S. beef supplier to the Soviet Union. In 1982, he purchased Cannon Mills in Kannapolis, North Carolina, later selling it to Fieldcrest in 1985 after controversial cost-cutting measures, including terminating 2,000 jobs and redirecting pension funds. In 1985, Murdock took over the nearly bankrupt Castle & Cooke, which owned Dole Food Company, transforming it into the world’s largest producer of fruits and vegetables. He privatized Dole in 2003, took it public again in 2009 with a $446 million IPO, and merged it privately in 2013. He also owned significant real estate, including nearly all of Lanai, Hawaii, which he sold to Larry Ellison in 2012. Forbes estimated his net worth at $3.7 billion at the time of his death.Spurred by personal tragedies—his mother’s death from cancer at 42 and his third wife Gabriele’s death from ovarian cancer in 1985—Murdock became a fervent advocate for health and longevity.
He adopted a pescatarian, plant-based diet, consuming daily smoothies with up to 20 fruits and vegetables, and shunned alcohol, processed sugar, and supplements, believing he could live to 125. He founded the Dole Nutrition Institute, oversaw the Encyclopedia of Foods, A Guide to Healthy Nutrition with UCLA, and established the California Health and Longevity Institute in 2006. His $500 million investment in the North Carolina Research Campus and David H. Murdock Research Institute in Kannapolis advanced nutrition and disease prevention research, revitalizing the town after the textile industry’s collapse.Murdock’s personal life was marked by six marriages and profound losses: Gabriele’s death in 1985, adopted son Eugene’s drowning in 1986, and son David Jr.’s fatal car accident in 2004. His surviving son, Justin, serves as CEO of NovaRx and senior vice president at Castle & Cooke.
A relentless and sometimes controversial figure, Murdock was known for bold business decisions and a tireless work ethic, continuing as Dole’s chairman and CEO until 2021.David H. Murdock died on June 9, 2025, at his ranch in Thousand Oaks, California, at age 102, falling short of his goal to reach 125. His death was confirmed by Dole Food Co. and former wife Tracy Murdock. Tributes, including from Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell, highlighted his philanthropy and impact on health initiatives. Murdock’s legacy endures through Dole’s global reach, his contributions to Kannapolis, and his advocacy for nutrition-driven longevity.
